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Tonight’s Strategy
These giant slates, like tonight, are not my favorite to play, so I will be playing light. Keep in mind, there are several viable options available at each position outside of this article. These are just where I am looking.
As always, all fantasy ppg numbers are FanDuel specific.
With Christmas, just about upon us, I bring you todays Position Coach Article.
Point Guard
With Russell Westbrook, still the only real viable option on the Thunder offense, he will be the one player I make sure to have the maximum exposure to tonight versus my beloved Celtics. I mean he averages a triple-double per game.
On the other side, Isaiah Thomas has the best match-up on the Celtics facing a Thunder team allowing the seventh most fantasy ppg to the PG position. If I was to fade Westbrook I may look here.
Stephen Curry finds himself in the same situation as Thomas tonight with the Pistons allowing the ninth most fantasy ppg to the one. I have been riding Curry waiting for a huge game and I see no reason to pull off now.
Rajon Rondo for his price-point still seems like an unbelievable value. He is capable on any given night of dropping 50-fantasy points without a pause and gets a positive match-up tonight.
Ty Lawson in his last two games is averaging over 30-fantasy ppg while benefiting from a favorable match-up off the bench. For the price, he is worth a flyer in GPPs for sure.
| FD | DK | Aces | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA | |
| Russell Westbrook | OKC | A | BOS | 29 | 35.1 | 82% | 1.8 | 31.3 | 10.5 | 10.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 5.5 | 43% | 41.95% | 57.8 | 62 | 58.4 | 58.7 | $12800 | $12700 | $8600 |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | A | DET | 30 | 33 | 93% | 3.8 | 24.4 | 4.2 | 5.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 2.7 | 47% | 28.44% | 39.4 | 42.9 | 39.6 | 41.3 | $8700 | $8000 | $6600 |
| Isaiah Thomas | BOS | H | OKC | 25 | 33.3 | 90% | 2.4 | 26.7 | 2.6 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 44% | 33.11% | 39 | 41.4 | 39.1 | 40.2 | $8200 | $7900 | $5900 |
| Rajon Rondo | CHI | A | CHA | 24 | 31 | 54% | 0.6 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 38% | 16.88% | 27 | 29.1 | 27.4 | 27.3 | $5900 | $6000 | $4800 |
| Ty Lawson | SAC | A | MIN | 29 | 25.2 | 76% | 0.6 | 7.7 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 42% | 16.67% | 18.7 | 19.9 | 18.8 | 19 | $4500 | $3800 | $3900 |
Shooting Guard
With James Harden having the best defensive match-up on the Rockets, and highest true usage percentage at his position, he is the top option at the two, and the easiest way to get a 60-spot.
C.J. McCollum is facing a Spurs team allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg to the two while providing you with a nice late-bullet to ride out the night with.
The Lakers are allowing the fourth most fantasy ppg to the two and Evan Fournier has scored more than 30-fantasy points in back-to-back games. Why not again tonight?
I like a few Minnesota players tonight and Zach LaVine is no exception. The Kings are allowing the ninth most fantasy ppg to the two while LaVine provides you with a nice 30-to-40 fantasy point upside.
Gary Harris was doing well averaging over 30 fantasy ppg over his last three, prior to his last game where he only played 19 minutes. I look for him to bounce-back tonight versus a Hawks team allowing the seventh most fantasy ppg to the two.
| FD | DK | Aces | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA | |
| James Harden | HOU | A | MEM | 30 | 36.7 | 84% | 3 | 27.8 | 8 | 11.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 5.4 | 44% | 33.14% | 53 | 57.6 | 53.4 | 54.5 | $11400 | $11200 | $8200 |
| C.J. McCollum | POR | H | SAS | 31 | 34.5 | 90% | 2.5 | 22.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 48% | 26.56% | 32.7 | 35.2 | 32.9 | 34 | $6800 | $6400 | $5200 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | H | LAL | 31 | 33.4 | 85% | 1.8 | 17.8 | 3 | 3.5 | 1 | 0.1 | 2 | 46% | 23.71% | 26.7 | 28.7 | 26.8 | 27.6 | $6400 | $6300 | $4900 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | H | ATL | 9 | 25.3 | 65% | 1.3 | 12.8 | 3 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 52% | 19.4% | 21.7 | 23 | 21.8 | 22.3 | $4700 | $4900 | $4550 |
| Zach LaVine | MIN | H | SAC | 27 | 37.9 | 87% | 2.6 | 20.7 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2 | 47% | 22.54% | 29.4 | 31.8 | 29.5 | 30.7 | $6600 | $6900 | $5200 |
Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard is slated to play in a close game tonight with the Spurs being -3 favorites. He also is facing a Portland team allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the three. I smell a 45-fantasy point night for him tonight.
In the lineups, that I do not use Leonard, I will run Jimmy Butler out. He provides you with the ability to drop a 50-spot if he gets hot, while coming in at a much more affordable price than LeBron James.
Jae Crowder, I know he has not exactly been setting the world on fire but…he does have big games now and again. With tough match-ups abound for the Celtics, he finds himself in one of the better ones.
Kent Bazemore is back in action tonight and could be playing in the two facing a Denver team allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the position. At his price, if he does get this match-up, I am all in.
In a boom or bust GPP Andre Roberson is steady diet of 20-fantasy point upside for next to nothing, and has scored over 20 in his last two.
| FD | DK | Aces | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA | |
| Kawhi Leonard | SAS | A | POR | 29 | 33.4 | 92% | 1.8 | 24 | 6 | 3.1 | 2 | 0.6 | 2 | 47% | 30.23% | 39 | 41.2 | 39.3 | 39.9 | $8000 | $7800 | $6250 |
| Jae Crowder | BOS | H | OKC | 21 | 31.2 | 89% | 2.1 | 13.4 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 48% | 17.21% | 24.7 | 26.7 | 25 | 25.8 | $5700 | $5200 | $4700 |
| Kent Bazemore | ATL | A | DEN | 27 | 27.2 | 70% | 1.1 | 10.6 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 37% | 21.36% | 21.1 | 22.7 | 21.3 | 21.7 | $4500 | $5400 | $4100 |
| Jimmy Butler | CHI | A | CHA | 28 | 36.2 | 89% | 1.1 | 24.4 | 6.7 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 45% | 27.19% | 40.8 | 42.7 | 41.1 | 41.4 | $8400 | $8400 | $6400 |
| Andre Roberson | OKC | A | BOS | 29 | 31.6 | 32% | 0.9 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 1 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.7 | 45% | 10.6% | 18.3 | 19.3 | 18.5 | 18.7 | $3900 | $4200 | $3500 |
Power Forward
Anthony Davis is in basically the same situation as Russell Westbrook. He is the Pelicans main source of offense and can drop a 70-spot on any given night. Until this changes, neither does is his “must play” status regardless of match-up.
You know who allows the most fantasy ppg to the four? The Portland Trailblazers. With LaMarcus Aldridge more than affordable, I plan to take full advantage of this match-up.
Serge Ibaka gets an often banged up Lakers team allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the four. He is averaging over 30 fantasy ppg in his last four and should continue tonight.
I am not huge on the Wizards tonight but Markieff Morris gets a favorable match-up versus the Bucks tonight for cheap and provides you with a nice 40-fantasy point upside.
For value, I will keep riding Jon Leuer coming off the bench for Detroit. He gets a great match-up and is averaging over 25 fantasy ppg in his last three for next to nothing.
| FD | DK | Aces | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA | |
| Anthony Davis | NOP | H | MIA | 29 | 37.3 | 81% | 0.6 | 29.8 | 11.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 49% | 33.69% | 52.3 | 54.4 | 52.9 | 52.6 | $11700 | $10600 | $8100 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | A | POR | 26 | 31.7 | 83% | 0.4 | 16.3 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1 | 1.6 | 46% | 24.52% | 29.1 | 30.5 | 29.5 | 29.3 | $6500 | $6400 | $5300 |
| Serge Ibaka | ORL | H | LAL | 31 | 30.6 | 83% | 1.5 | 15.2 | 6.7 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 49% | 20.99% | 28.1 | 29.7 | 28.4 | 28.8 | $6500 | $6100 | $5000 |
| Markieff Morris | WAS | A | MIL | 27 | 31.7 | 80% | 0.6 | 12.8 | 5.9 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 42% | 20.34% | 24.5 | 26 | 24.8 | 24.8 | $5400 | $5200 | $4450 |
| Jon Leuer | DET | H | GSW | 30 | 26.7 | 89% | 0.8 | 11.2 | 6.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 51% | 17.62% | 22.1 | 23.3 | 22.4 | 22.5 | $4900 | $5000 | $4300 |
Center
Did you know Joel Embiid has a higher true usage rate than Anthony Davis at the four? FanDuel has him in the center position for steal tonight facing a Phoenix team allowing the sixth most fantasy ppg to the PF position.
Otherwise, I find a way to Boogie. DeMarcus Cousins is a top play any night, and, well…tonight is no different. He is the best way to try and get 70-fantasy points at the center position, but you will pay for it.
For value, I like both Jahlil Okafor facing a Phoenix team allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg to the center position, and Cody Zeller who is averaging over 25-fantasy ppg over his last six in a nice match-up versus the Bulls.
Bismack Biyombo is still dirt cheap and averaging over 25 fantasy ppg over his last seven. The Lakers are also allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the center position.
| FD | DK | Aces | YTD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA | |
| DeMarcus Cousins | SAC | A | MIN | 28 | 34.6 | 77% | 1.8 | 29 | 10.7 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3 | 45% | 37.42% | 48.9 | 51.8 | 49.4 | 49.8 | $11300 | $10400 | $7850 |
| Joel Embiid | PHI | A | PHX | 19 | 24.3 | 74% | 1.2 | 17.9 | 7.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 46% | 35.36% | 32.2 | 34.9 | 32.5 | 32.8 | $7200 | $7300 | $5400 |
| Jahlil Okafor | PHI | A | PHX | 24 | 23.1 | 61% | 0.0 | 11.3 | 5.1 | 1 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 51% | 23.05% | 20.7 | 21.7 | 21 | 20.7 | $5200 | $5300 | $4750 |
| Bismack Biyombo | ORL | H | LAL | 30 | 26.5 | 48% | 0.0 | 6.2 | 8.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 50% | 12.59% | 20.2 | 21.3 | 20.7 | 20.2 | $5000 | $4500 | $4250 |
| Cody Zeller | CHA | H | CHI | 26 | 25.8 | 65% | 0.0 | 10.8 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 58% | 17.05% | 22.5 | 23.4 | 22.8 | 22.5 | $4900 | $4900 | $4500 |
Good luck tonight, any questions email me JCFantasyAlarm@yahoo.com, or hit me up on Twitter @RealJerryColvin